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Christmas Celebrations

Discover St. Francisville’s Christmas in the Country December 1-3

St. Francisville’s Christmas in the Country in the historic downtown district, Dec. 1-3, boasts millions of white lights gracing gallery posts and Victorian trim work, turning the area into a winter wonderland, the perfect setting for activities for the entire family.

Friday evening, Dec. 1, the celebration is kicked off at St. Francisville’s Town Hall as the children’s choir, Voices in Motion, sings at 5:30, followed by Mayor Billy D’Aquilla lighting the town tree and hosting a reception, complete with reworks.

Twilight Shopping is offered until 7 p.m. by a variety of unique shops throughout the downtown area and spreading out into the outlying district, offering seasonal decorations, great gift items and extended hours. Vendors in Parker Park will also observe late shopping hours.

Saturday begins with a 7:30 a.m. prayer break- fast at the Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, fol- lowed by Relay for Life’s Christmas on the Run for the supporting the American Cancer Society, with a one-mile fun run beginning at 8 a.m. and the 5-K run at 8:30 a.m., both starting at Parker Park.

Little ones can enjoy Breakfast with St. Nick at Grace Episcopal Church’s Jackson Hall; spon- sored by the Women’s Service League, three seatings are available at 8, 9:15 and 10:30, with reservations encouraged and tick- ets available online. The Women’s Service League also offers fresh wreaths and cookbook sales on Ferdinand St. daily all weekend.

In Parker Park from 10 am-4 pm, vendors offer everything from food and music to jewelry, photos, honey, paintings, t-shirts, calendars, hair bows and more. Main Street Band plays in the park gazebo from noon to 2.

The Polar Express train transports visitors through the downtown area from 10 to 2, with a Polar Express movie and fun in the Town Hall meeting room.

St. Francisville’s shops and art galleries offer a wide variety of invento- ry, from antiques and art, decorative items, one-of-a-kind handmade crafts, custom jewelry, housewares, artisanal foodstuffs, clothing for every member of the family. Plus there’s something new this year called the Candy Cane Shopping Card, featuring discounts and “I Shopped St. Francisville” t-shirts for purchases over $100.

From 10am-4pm Saturday, the Friends of the Library sponsor the popular annual Tour of Homes bene tting library programs, showcasing four homes showcasing innovative architecture and eclectic décor. Saturday evening en- tertainment begins at 5:30 with Oakley Plantation’s Colonial Christmas at Audubon State Historic Site, with candlelight tours, period music and wassail until 8:30 p.m.

United Methodist Church hosts a community sing-along, 6-7pm. First Baptist Church has a Living Nativity of seven scenes inside the church from 6 to 8, where visitors travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem and rediscover the miracle of the birth of Jesus and enjoy a petting stable, crafts, and hot chocolate and cookies. Par

On Sunday, Dec. 3, vendors are in Parker Park from 10 to 4, with music noon to 4 by Angola Travelling Band. Sunday’s highlight is the Women’s Service League Christmas Parade beginning at 2 p.m., travelling along Ferdi- nand and Commerce Streets, with oats, bands, marching groups, dignitaries and lots of throws, all under the theme of “Don’t Stop Believing.”

Located on US Highway 61 on the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge, LA, and Natchez, MS, the St. Francisville area is a year-round tourist destination with a number of splendidly restored plantation homes open for tours, unique art galleries plus specialty and antiques shops, and nice restau- rants throughout the St. Francisville area serving everything from ethnic cui- sine to seafood and classic Louisiana favorites.

Details: For visitor information, call West Feliciana Tourist Commission and West Feliciana Historical Society at 225-6330 or 225-635-4224, or St. Francisville Main Street at 225-635-3873; online visit www.westfeliciana.us, www.stfrancisvillefestivals.com, www.stfrancisville.net or www.stfrancisville.us (the events calendar gives dates and information on special activities).

Mayor Gerard Landry issues invitation to bigger and better

2017 Christmas celebration in Denham Springs

The City of Denham Springs announces our third annual Denham Springs Christmas in the Village, in the heart of the Antiques Village. We will light up the historic downtown district and present several exciting events this year with so many opportunities for Christmas fun!

The Lighting of Old City Hall ceremony is the first event for the Christmas season and will take place November 24, 6:00 -7:30 pm, at 115 Mattie Street. Festivities will include carousels, hot chocolate and s’more cookies, mule-drawn rides, and a photo booth as well as guest appearances from Santa, Bubbles the Camel, and the Young Artist Academy Gospel choir. All events are free.

The downtown stores will also be lighted and decorated to get everyone in the Christmas spirit.

The Denham Springs Merchant’s Association Christmas Open House is November 25, with caroling and special sales and events through- out the Village. That day will also see the Spotlight Theatre Players perform a live version of “It’s a Wonderful Life” at 1pm and 4pm at Old City Hall. Each performance will be approximately one hour. Tickets are free, but you must call and reserve your seat due to limited seating. Contact Robert Reynolds at 225-315-3776 or visit www.stpds.com.

Also on that Saturday, Santa will be at The Bee’s Knees at 222 N. Range Ave. and the Grinch will try make an appearance a few doors down at Theater Antiques Mall.

Denham Springs Main Street’s 15th annual Chef’s Evening and Wine Tasting, Nov. 3O, 7:00 -9:00 pm, in the Antiques Village shops. This is a pre-sold ticketed event with a limited number of tickets. Come out and enjoy ne food and wines among your friends, family and neighbors.

The Denham Springs Kiwanis Club’s Lighting of the Community Christmas Tree, with music by Livingston Parish Children’s Choir and the Young Artist Academy Gospel Choir, will be held Dec. 7, 7:00-8:00 pm, at Train Station Park on Railroad Avenue. Festivities will include face painting, cookie decorating, Chick- l-A sandwiches, popcorn, lemonade, and a toy drive for Sheriff Jason Ard’s Christmas Crusade for Children.

The annual Christmas parade will roll through Denham Springs on Dec. 9, at 2:00 pm. The parade will start at Denham Springs High School and travel Range Avenue to Veterans Blvd. where it will disband.

Also new this year, on Saturday, Dec. 16, is a live nativity at Train Station Park., presented by Livingston Parish SADD at 6pm. Bring a chair and watch the live nativity, join in singing, and see live animals. There will be photo ops, cookies, and hot chocolate.

The city is currently looking for community partners to help sponsor an event and/or adopt a designated tree at Train Station Park. Mon- etary donations are accepted for event sponsorship. To adopt a tree, you will select a theme, supply all of the lights and ornaments, and spend an afternoon decorating your tree. All themes, lights and decorations must be pre-approved by the City of Denham Springs and all lights and ornaments must be outdoor quality. Signs with sponsorship acknowledgement will be placed by the designated tree

Each donor/sponsor will receive signage and recognition throughout all of the media releases, at the events and through all social media. We invite you to join us as we share Christmas in the Village with our visitors and residents. Together, we can lift the spirits of our community and make Denham Springs a Christmas destination. For more information, call Joan Landry or Donna Jennings 225-665-8121.

Come participate and enjoy Christmas Caroling in the Village!

The Denham Springs Antiques Village is hosting the third annual “Christmas in the Village” celebration! The City, along with community partners, would like to invite anyone who may desire to participate in old-fashioned Christmas caroling in the Village.

Small or large groups who would like to sing Christmas carols at designated music stops in the Antique Village are welcome to volunteer.

There are four Saturdays when carolers will be singing to visitors: Nov. 25, Dec. 2 and Dec. 23. The City will ask carolers to sing for about one hour – or longer if they wish – starting at 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, or 2:30. Choose one or more time slots on any one or more of these Saturdays. It should take about an hour to complete all stops if you sing two songs at each stop. The group size does not matter. In the past, groups as small as 3 people and some as large as 25 have participated. Some groups carry instruments to play as they sing, while most just sing acapella as they move from stop to stop.

This is how it works: There will be designated music stops along Range Ave. in the Antiques Village on each of the four Saturdays. Your group will get information in advance showing the general layout of the music stops. You can choose to start at any one of the 10 music stops. Your group walks from stop to stop and sings a couple of Christmas carols at each designated stop. Once you have completed the entire route of singing, you may walk over to Old City Hall on Mattie Street and receive a thank you gift as appreciation for joining in the celebration!

Here’s how to join in: Call Al Bye at 225-931-0704 or email aabye@cox. net, and have at least two choices of times you would like to participate in the caroling. Your group will then be given a designated time and will be emailed the layout of the music stops. This is a fun activity and we would love to have your family, church group, school group, or friends get together and join us!

Christmas open house, plantation style, in Springfield

The public is invited to a Plantation Christmas Open House at the Carter House in Carter Plantation, 30325 Carter Cemetery Rd., Springfield, LA 70462. The house will be decorated for Christmas in styles from the past to the present and will be open for tours on Sunday, Dec. 10 and Sunday, Dec. 17, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. on both days. The only plantation still standing in Livingston Parish will have each room dec- orated in holiday styles from the past to the present, and Santa will be there! The house was built between 1817-1820 and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979. The tour, complete with history of the plantation and those who lived there, is perfect for children, parents, grandparents and groups of all ages. Tickets will be sold at the door for $5.00/person, $10.00/family. Children under 12, as well as HCHS members, are admitted free. Tickets will be entered in a drawing for a door prize. Proceeds will go toward restoration work and ood damage repairs to the properties. Special tours are available upon request.

Snapshots

Helen Turner, left, and Margot May unveiled their new company name, Inspired Media, and its logo at the Livingston
Parish Chamber of Commerce Expo May 6. They have acquired ownership of the Livingston Parish Business Journal
and The Journal/Zachary-Pointe Coupee. Publication of the magazines will continue without interruption. Watch for
new and improved features in coming months!

Top photos show vendors and shoppers at the V. Watts Trade Day which is open to the public on the second Saturday of each month. The above photo shows some of the vendors and the huge variety of items that could be found at the Trade Day and in
the indoor Trade Mart which is open each week. The vendors are seated in front, Nana Pepe, Sonnie Henderson, Kathy Fresina, Judy Bridges, Judith Cormier, Melanie Honeycutt and Joyce Neumayer. Standing are Gary Snyder, Dani Borden, Elaine Bourdeu, Tammy Hardy,
Mary Kay Jackson, Tina Moore, Sherry Watts, Albin Seal, Cindy Dutsch, Aline Glaze, Linda Snyder, Virginia Marshall, Robyn Smith, Dee Dee Sibley, Valery Watts and Denton Dansby.

Husband and wife Ryan and Ashlea Pierce have a new RV parts and service store near French Settlement